Half to fred l



(No Model.)

B PORTER LAP ROBE HOLDER Patented Dec. 31, 1895.

, Par/er UNITED STATES BENJAMIN PORTER, OF HALF TO PATENT FFICE.

LAP-ROBE HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,198, dated December 31, 1895. Application filedli'ebruary 12,1895. Serial No. 538,090. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN PORTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ellendale, Dickey county, North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lap-Robe Holders, of which the following specification contains a full, complete, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents my invention as in use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective of the holder detached. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view mainly showing the friction-slide in full and dotted lines. Figs. 4 and 5 are details of the same. Figs. 6 and 7 are details of the claspslide, and Fig. 8 is a partly-longitudinal sec- I tion of one of the clasps and a portion of the back-strap.

The object of the invention is to provide a lap-robe holder separate and independent of the robe and vehicle,and which maybe passed around the back of the person and be secured by means of clasps adjustably connected to its ends to the lap-robe so as to hold the robe close around the person and permit free movement without strain on the holder.

The invention will first be described and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

A represents the back-band formed preferably of a stout piece of webbing, to the ends of which are adjustably connected the two clasps B B. These clasps each comprise a member I) terminating at its outer end in an inwardly-curved serrated jaw b, and near the opposite end of the said member I) on its inner side are formed parallel ears 6*, between which is pivoted the rear end of the swinging member I) of the clasp, the forward end of the member If terminating in a serrated jaw 11 which is opposedQto the jaw 12 of the member b. The two members Z) 19 are forced toward and from each other by means of a slide 0 which has two slots 0 0, through which pass the body portions of said members, the outer cross-bars o c of the slide serving to force the jaws together when the slide is moved outwardly, and the middle cross-bar c which engages the adjacent faces of said members, forces them positively apart as the slide is moved rearwardly. Thus the use of springs is entirely obviated.

The clasp B at the inner end of its member I) is formed'with a transverse slot or loop through which one end of the web is loosely passed, said end being folded upon itself and provided with a friction-slide D having an outer cross-bar d around which the extremity of the web is secured, while the inner end of the slide is provided with a slot d, through which the main portion of the web is free to slide when the slide is turned at right angles thereto. The upper cross-bar d of the slot d is provided on the outer side which comes next to the web A with a series of pointed teeth d which engage the outer face of the web when the slide is turned parallel with the web or at less than a right angle thereto,' as shown in Fig. 3, and thus all slipping of the slide along the web is prevented.

In order that the slide D may be moved freely along the web in adjusting it to the person, the inner face of the cross-bar d is beveled outwardly, as shown at (1 The web A will be bent twice at right angles in passing through the slot 01'' when the slide is under tension, and this in connection with the teeth (1 will firmly hold the slide in its adjusted position.

The clasp B is provided at the inner end of the main member I) with two outwardlyprojecting ears b which are connected at their bases by a fiat cross-bar b having a groove 1) across its outer face. Between the ears is pivoted an L-shaped clamp E, the clamping section or jaw e of which forces the web A into the said groove and firmly holds it there, the handle-section e of the clamp resting on the outer side of the webbing, as shown in The webbing A is passed under the jaw e, around the crossbar]; and thence rearwardly upon itself.

The clamp E forms an auxiliary adjustment and will be used in case the slide D has been moved around behind the person too far for ready access, or in the event of the robeholder being used to hold the robe around two persons the web A may be adjusted from either or both ends, as may be desired. The strain on the web will hold the clamp E closed; but it may be readily released by swinging its handle=section outwardly.

ioo

The outer sides of the clasp members Z) are corrugated or grooved transversely, and the inner face of the outer cross-bars c of the slides O are rounded so as to enter the grooves and hold slides in their adjusted positions.

It will be seen that my lap-robe holder is an article wholly independent of the robe and adapted for application to any and all laprobes. Moreover, it is not connected to any portion of a vehicle, and therefore allows of unrestricted movement of'the person.

111 use the person simply passes the band around him and connects the two clasps to the robe. Then by operating the slide or the clamp the proper adjustment will be effected.

XV hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A lap-robe holder comprising the backband or strap A, provided at its ends with clasps each consisting of two fiat members Z), 6 formed at their outer ends with the wide jaws b I) having teeth on their abutting edges, each member I) having an integral loop at the inner extremity for the band A and integral ears 6 between which the inner ends of the members 6 are pivoted, and the rectangular slide 0 provided with parallel transverse slots 0 0 through which said members Z2 19 pass; the said slots being separated by a cross piece which lies between the members I) b and forces them positively apart when the slide is moved rearwardly while the outer cross-pieces c c of the slide engage the outer faces of the members Z) b and force said members together when the slide is moved outwardly, substantially as described.

2. The clasp consisting in the two flat members 7) 71 provided at their outer ends with the wide jaws b 11 having teeth on their abutting edges; the rear ends of the member Z) being formed withintegral ears Z2 connected by a flat cross-piece b spaced away from the end of said member to permit a strap or band to be passed around the inner edge of the said cross-piece and back over its inner face, a lever clamp E pivoted between the said ears with its jaw e projecting toward the inner face of the cross piece and its free or operating arm 6 projecting rearwardly away from the clasp, the member being pivoted between the ears in front of the said cross-piece, and the rectangular slide having transverse parallel slots receiving the members 6 b said slide serving to positively open and close the jaws, substantially as set forth.

3. As an improved article of manufacture, a lap-robe holder comprising the back-band A, the two clasps B B, each formed of two flat members I) b pivoted together at their rear ends and having wide toothed jaws b b at the outer ends, the member I) of the clasp B having an integral loop through which passes one end of the strap, a slide D having the slot d through which the band slides and the cross bar 61 to which its extremity is secured, the ears 6 integral with rear end of member 5 of clasp B, the fiat cross piece 1) connecting said ears and spaced from end of the members b 12 the lever clamp E, engaging with its jaw the end of the band passing around and over said cross piece, and the two slides 0 upon the clasps for positively opening and closing their members, substantially as set forth.

BENJAMIN PORTER. lVitnesses:

GEO. MERCHANT, PHIL. S. RANDALL. 

